Curve Drops Second Straight to R-Phils, 4-2
Published on May 4, 2003 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
(READING, PA)-- Brian Hitchcox homered and drove in two runs and Bud Smith allowed just two runs on four hits over seven innings of work as the Reading Phillies handed the Curve its second consecutive loss, 4-2, on Sunday afternoon at First Energy Stadium in Reading.
The loss drops the Curve's overall record back to .500 at 14-14 and lowers the club's mark to 4-2 on its current season-long nine-game road trip. Altoona had won its first four games away from Blair County Ballpark having swept Bowie in a three-game series Tuesday through Thursday and winning the opener of this series on Friday night.
John Grabow (2-1) started for the Curve and suffered his first loss of the season, allowing three runs (all earned) on eight hits in six innings of work. The left-hander, who was making his Curve franchise-record 67th start, gave up a solo homer to Hitchcox in the second inning, a sacrifice fly to Jeff Inglin in the third and an RBI single to Hitchcox in the sixth before departing.
Smith (1-1), who pitched a no-hitter for the St. Louis Cardinals in September 2001, did not allow a hit until Shawn Garrett's lead off single in the fifth and held the Curve off the board until Ray Navarrete blasted his fourth home run of the season, a two-run shot in the top of the eighth to draw the Curve to within a run at 3-2. Altoona thought it had tied the game later in the inning when, with Kevin Nicholson at second, Chris Duffy ripped what appeared to be a fair ball inside the third base bag and down the left-field line. Home plate umpire Kevin Causey called the ball foul, drawing the ire of Curve manager Dale Sveum, who argued the call before being tossed from the game. Duffy completed the at-bat and was called out on a third strike, effectively ending the Curve's chances at a comeback.
After the R-Phils added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth to make it a 4-2 game, right-hander Dan Giese left Josh Bonifay, who had doubled off the left-field wall with two outs, at second base to end the game.
Bonifay's double did extend his team-high hitting streak to six games, but he failed to homer for the fifth consecutive game. Nonetheless, he completed an outstanding week at the plate, going 12-for-24 (.400) with four homers and 11 RBI, making him a strong candidate for Eastern League Player of the Week honors.
After an off-day Monday, the Curve resumes its road trip with the first of a three-game series against the Akron Aeros on Tuesday night at Canal Park. Right-hander Landon Jacobsen (3-1, 1.37) will make the start for the Curve. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m.
Eastern League Stories from May 4, 2003
- Curve Drops Second Straight to R-Phils, 4-2 - Altoona Curve
- Wild Pitch Earns Reading Road Victory over Curve in Extra Innings - Altoona Curve
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